There was a lot of action this year in mysteries and thrillers, but not the cacophonous kind. We’re talking domestic thrillers. Some on this year’s list reside in the sweet life. Bucolic suburbs flush with dream homes, grass that’s almost too green to be true. Then comes that tap on your shoulder, that place in the story you couldn’t have seen coming. Characters unleash their rage not when you thought they should have or could have. The surprises just keep coming, thanks to super talented creators who know their way around the genre and your imagination. Cheers to them and the narrators who delivered great performances, from the twisted to the beloved.
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I was hooked within minutes on Amy Tintera’s story within a podcast featuring Lucy, who finds herself in a mess and covered with her best friend’s blood. I was rooting for her, and I loved when she went to Grandmother’s house; both are real characters. Sorry I couldn’t make cocktail hour. I chuckled, mourned, and obediently followed the twisty path to the truth. January LaVoy and Will Damron work their magic effortlessly, of course. —Yvonne D.
I will have to remember the title of this audiobook the next time I think about fibbing. I love a character who really doesn’t exist but has a pretty full life, and even love. Warning: It’s twisty, but it won’t make your head hurt and induce anxiety. It will just deliver all that you want in a thriller. Narrator Saskia Maarleveld is amazing and so versatile. More, more, more. —YD
Beware of your beautiful neighbors. They look like they have everything, but they want more, and not just the usual acquisitions. They play a much bigger game. And there’s nothing more dangerous than players with money, charm, and convincing bliss. How do they have it all? Keep listening, you might need to fight the chills you’ll get from this thriller with a warm sweater. It delivers and then some. Narrators Billie Piper and Dan Stevens headline a stunning cast that includes Shane Zaza, Avita Jay, Felicity Duncan, David Holt, and Sarah Whitehouse. —YD
I don’t mean to sound like a teacher while writing about The Teacher, but I urge you to pay attention. No cheating. That’s a hint. It’s nothing new, unfortunately, school scandals. Gone are the days of just reading, writing, and arithmetic. However, this thriller gets the top score for its twists and turns, and that’s just the characters. If you’re into world-class revenge moments, keep listening. I would also like narrators Leslie Howard and Danny Montooth to go straight to the head of the class. —Nicole R.
When I finished The Sequel my head was delightfully spinning. The Sequel is the sequel to The Plot. Writer Jean Hanff Korelitz is very brava, because in this thriller she has put the “isty” in twisty. I’m liking books within books these days. The Plot was about an award-winning book, Crib, which was plagiarized from an aspiring writer’s work. Inside The Sequel there’s another book, The Afterword. Anna Williams-Bonner, the main character, is the ultimate antihero, one tough broad. Narrator Julia Whelan’s home must be filled with flowers—here are some more! —YD
All the Colors of the Dark is a story that has it all: serial killers, love, and nostalgia. Beginning in the 1970s, at the tail end of the Vietnam War, this bestselling literary thriller follows a young love birthed in the midst of tragedy and cultivated during a tumultuous time as a town in Missouri is plagued by a serial killer. Combining the masterful storytelling and character-building of author Chris Whitaker and the incredible performative talents of narrator Edoardo Ballerini, All the Colors of the Dark is an unforgettable, well-paced mystery. —YD
I always feel a dash of anxiety when one of my favorite authors kicks off something totally new, but this fantastic new series starter from Richard Osman does not disappoint. There are some familiar tropes at play: retiree Steve Wheeler dabbling in investigatory work, a diverse cast of characters who come together over pints and trivia. But Osman ups the ante with Steve's daughter-in-law Amy, a truly hardcore veteran-turned-bodyguard who works for an elite protection contractor. And the murders these two find themselves needing to solve are epic and global in scale. In true Osman form, the dialogue is punchy, fast-paced, and smart, making this listen completely impossible to put down thanks to Nicola Walker's adroit and vibrant narration. —Emily C.
The Safe Man was always a departure for Michael Connelly. First of all, it’s a ghost story. And now it’s a multi-cast production, a whole new dimension for him, and he’s excited. After listening to this experience, I’ll never look at a safe the same way again. I mean, stashing jewels and cash isn’t the worst idea, but when you get the story behind the story, you’ll get my point—and maybe consider chair cushions? You can always call on a master safe cracker, as the horror author in the story does. But what are the consequences? Jack Quaid and Titus Welliver lead a terrific cast, making this podcast nail-biting and binge-worthy. —YD
True crime podcaster and author Jim Clemente takes a historical left turn with this multi-cast dramatization of a real life "bluebeard" who murdered countless women in the early 1900s. It began with an ad, not too much different from today’s dating apps. This one had the magic word that called attention to lonely hearts: “matrimony.” You know the rest. Joseph Fiennes, delivering all the same creepy vibes we loved him for in The Handmaid's Tale, plays serial killer James Watson. Also leading the full cast are Karen David, Holt McCallany, and Adrian Pasdar. —EC
What friends do for friends is clearly on exhibit in this harrowing tale made all the more dramatic with an immersive audio experience. We all have friends who refuse to come out of their shell, in this case Charlie’s home, the only place she feels safe due to a past experience. But her best friend Tessa is dead and Charlie decides to break out of her shell and look for the murderer. Hold on tight as you listen to this gripping story. The narrators—Stephanie Einstein, Tyla Collier, Dina Pearlman, Brian Telestai, and York Whitaker—are terrific. No surprise there. —YD
